On this episode of Living Abroad, American families are adjusting to life in Brussels, Belgium -- the Capital of Europe. While it's one of the more affordable European capitals, Americans still face everyday challenges from trying to learn just one of the three official languages to living with 200 days of rain a year. Host Chi-Lan Lieu visits three families who discover they're living in a town with 2,000 restaurants and that Brussels has more to offer than just frites, waffles and beer.

Row houses are tricky to renovate. They're typically small, narrow, and you're restricted to the space provided between the homes on either side. HGTV design expert Monica Pedersen, along with a local Realtor, are visiting three Washington DC row homes to evaluate recently renovated $50K kitchens. Do bright red glossy cabinets work in an early 1900s row house? Will a high-end appliance make up for cheaper cabinetry? Will heated flooring win over our experts? All three renovations are neck and neck, and one homeowner may actually make money on their investment.

It's 8am, and the teams rush to scout the homes up for auction today. In the upscale town of Saratoga, a 2-bedroom condo is up for sale that has both Todd and Michael, and Rick and Vinny eager to investigate and secure a quick flip.
In San Jose, a 4-bedroom home grabs Alisha's attention, but Mike and Manly uncover clues that convince them to bid big. In Sunnyvale, a charming 4-bedroom home has Krista enthralled, but Dom thinks she's overlooking the costly flaws. And after having good luck flipping in this area before, Mike and Manly plant to make this their second score. Each team is confident their knowledge and bidding skills will win the house, but they won't really know what they're buying till the step inside. May the best team win!

The teams hurry to scout three houses up for auction in two hours in the San Francisco Bay Area. In Campbell, Mike and Manly are stoked about a 5 bedroom, despite the home's beat up appearance and the headaches associated with pools. Vinny and Rick are also fired up for this house because they're eager to invest in a bigger property for larger profits. Down in Los Gatos, Josh and Alisha scout a 2 bedroom home, and after checking out a tool shed packed with tools, they have high hopes for a nice interior. But the Los Gatos natives Todd and Michael have had their eye on this house for years and they know they can flip it for a hefty profit. Over in San Jose, a 4 bedroom house has Dom and Krista's attention, they glean from its well manicured lawn and clean façade that it's probably just as well maintained on the inside. Mike and Manly are also impressed at its exterior and think they can make big money with very little effort. But the real truth about the state of the homes won't be revealed until they step inside. Tune in to the next Flip It To Win It to see who's willing to risk it all at auction for a chance to walk through the front door!

The teams are up bright and early hoping to snag a hot property at the auction. The stakes are high, with only two hours to scout the outside of the homes before risking millions against other bidders. They'll be battling for a mid-century modern home in Silicon Valley, and a three bedroom home and a fixer upper ranch, both in San Jose. Mike and Manly love the style and location of the Silicon Valley home, and think this could be a quick flip before jetting off to Paris for Manly's wedding. But that's only if Rick and Vinny don't snatch the home from them first. Meanwhile, the three-bedroom San Jose home is in Josh's favorite neighborhood, which means a war on the auction steps when Todd and Michael try to walk away with it instead. And thanks to the low starting bid for the fixer-upper ranch, both Dom and Krista and their rivals Greg and Beau will be battling it out to score the best deal. Once the auction's over the real work begins as the winning teams uncover the true state of their properties, and then do the necessary work to flip the homes for what each team hopes will be a killer profit. Little do they know, they'll face surprises at every turn.

t's a busy morning in the Bay Area with three new homes up for auction. The teams will be bidding on a charming two bedroom house in Redwood City, an updated property near good schools in San Jose, and a rare country home in Sunnyvale. Dom is willing to bid half a million dollars for the Redwood City home because he's certain its upscale Silicon Valley location guarantees him a huge profit. Rick and Vinny also have big plans for this home and won't go down without a fight. Then it's Mike and Manly versus Todd and Michael for the San Jose home. Both teams believe they're just a few cosmetic changes away from reselling this house for top dollar. And a discovery in the garage only fuels Todd's fire. Meanwhile, the Sunnyvale home incites a bidding war between Beau and Josh, who are intrigued by its country setting, which comes with a few surprises of its own. Buying homes at auction means taking big risks on properties that aren't always what they seem from the outside. Check out the next episode of Flip it to Win it to find out the rest of the story.

Sergio is from Serbia, but he wants to buy his first home in Honolulu, Hawaii. His plan is to stay there for a few years, and eventually rent the place out when he's ready to move on. Sergio is picky about what he wants in this first place. It should be an upgraded modern condo right by coveted Waikiki Beach, with a modern kitchen, lanai, and views of the ocean. But in pricey Waikiki, his strict budget of $400,000 is going to make this search for perfection almost impossible.

Ashley and John Butler, have been on a rollercoaster of life changes lately. They recently married in their home of Washington, D.C. A week and a half later, movers were coming to pack their stuff and send it across the pond to London, England. John's job provided him the opportunity to transfer there, which on the surface for these city dwellers, seems like an easy transition. The only hang-up is his work is located an hour outside the city limits of London in the suburbs. With no option of public transportation, and John not being thrilled with the idea of getting behind the wheel to get there, they will have to make some tough choices. Deciding whether to live closer to work and give up the city life they both love may not sit well, especially with Ashley who craves the hustle and bustle of a metropolitan area. Pinning them down to a location that works for both their comfort and their $5,000 a month budget is going to be a tall order for real estate agent, Gavin Fleming. Will they choose the "burbs" over Big Ben when House Hunters International treks across the majestic city of London, England?

Married couple Fiona and Alex are ready to sell their condo and upgrade to a single family home. Fiona has her heart set on a place with charm and character, while Alex wants a clean and modern space. Since their styles differ so drastically, finding a house that suits both of their tastes is a tall order. Complicating matters is that Alex wants to keep renovation to a minimum, while his wife is eager to get her hands dirty with construction. Once they purchase a place, Fiona convinces Alex that a renovation is in order, and they immediately embark upon redoing the back half of the house, including a total overhaul of the master suite and guest bathroom. Watch as this young couple turns an outdated space into a perfect blend of her charm and his modern style.

Newleyweds Andrew and Caitlin are ready to buy their first home together. Andrew, a pastor, hopes to buy in Burbank, CA, near their church. He'd love a crafstman style place, whereas Caitlin is more interested in a traditional style home. They're okay with a fixer-upper, and once they get the keys to their new home, overhauls of the kitchen and bathroom get underway. Caitlin quickly becomes overwhelmed with the amount of work they've taken on, and wants nothing more than to get through the reno as quickly as possible. All of their hard work pays off, when after several months of construction they are able to enjoy a beautiful space all their own.

Lindsay and Scott have been renting a downtown Maryland townhouse with Lindsay's brother. Now that Scott and Lindsay are newly married and with a baby on the way, it's time for the couple to move out but they can't agree on where. Lindsay wants to raise their baby close to her parents in rural Maryland in a home surrounded by rustic charm but Scott loves Baltimore and wants to stay in the city in a place with a hip industrial feel. Once these two settle their differences and choose a home, they take on a journey of renovation. Figuring out how to merge their styles while keeping to a budget is not easy task for these high school sweethearts. Watch as these soon to be parents tackle remodeling awkward rooms into an inviting home for their new family.

Alan, Jen, and their dog Harry have been living in a 1 bedroom, 625 square foot apartment in Manhattan's Battery Park City. While they love city living, they're ready to buy a place of their own. They are leaving Manhattan's high real estate prices behind to look for a fixer-upper in Westchester County, where they both grew up. With a budget of $600,000, Alan likes mid-century homes, and is hoping to find something they can transform into his modern style. Jen, on the other hand, loves two-story tudors and colonials. Once they purchase a home, they waste no time getting to work. They've set aside $40,000 to tackle renovations, and they have plans to update nearly every room in the house. But it doesn't take long for problems to occur, from asbestos-laden pipes to lead paint that must be removed before any other work can occur. After over two months of ups and downs, they end up with a first home to be proud of.

Newly married Ella and Michael Sandin are looking to buy a home for their blended family of five in the quaint and pricey town of Fairfield, Connecticut. With a long wish list of must haves finding a four bedroom house that fits both their styles is quite the challenge. When they finally do settle on a home, they work hard to make it their own. Michael, a self proclaimed architect, tackles a full house renovation head on only to be met with hurdles and obstacles at every turn. After giving it his all he surrenders the kitchen renovation to the expertise of designer Jenna Piccirillo who pulls out all the stops to give Ella her dream kitchen. With less projects to oversee Michael's able to transform the unfinished basement into a stunning master suite. It's a slow race to the finish line but the detours along the way are well worth it to get their picture perfect home!

Anastasia and Eric have outgrown their rental house in Orange County, California and are ready to buy a place of their own. While they'd both like something with vintage charm, Eric still wants the space to be modern; his wife is more concerned that it be single story since she's afraid of tripping on stairs. Once they purchase a place, they immediately embark upon extensive renovations, including an total overhaul of the outdated kitchen. Early in the process, however, Anastasia has to learn to manage her expectations when things don't go exactly as planned. Watch as this couple overcomes the challenges of living through a renovation, and see the great payoff as their beautiful new space comes together.

Picking up her West Coast life Fran moved to the Boston suburb of Norwood so her husband Tim could be close to his ailing mother. When it came time for them to sell Tim's family home, they opted to look for a place to buy in the same close knit neighborhood. Fran wants to find a house that's move-in-ready, and reminds her of her California upbringing. She prefers ranch style homes with lots of light and little renovation. Tim is adamant about buying a Cape Cod since that is what he grew up in, and is eager to take on a fixer-upper. With conflicting wish lists and a tight first-time buyers budget, finding a house that meets both their standards is quite a challenge. Once they find a place, staying on budget proves to be difficult as electrical and plumbing issues unexpectedly drain their funds. While money may be tight, they agree that hiring designer Elizabeth Benedict to blend their styles together is a smart decision if they want to get the kitchen of their dreams. As the kitchen progresses, Tim takes on renovating the master bathroom himself, infusing the space with a Cape Cod style. Watch as this fun-loving, competitive couple fight the odds to get their new home finished.

Heading up to the second floor, Nicole takes on the bathroom, one of the house's dirtiest and grimiest rooms. She brings it down to the studs, adding clean lines with white subway tile and re-purposes an old dresser into one of her signature vanities. Since the house was lifted, the front porch has been floating in space, so Nicole tears it down to begin rebuilding a new one, giving the house an inviting and classic look.

Ever closer to finishing up the interior of the Dollar House, Nicole works in the bedrooms to put up all new walls and ceilings as well as remove the black and white linoleum flooring and patch up a burn mark in the hardwood. The staircase needs attention as well, so Nicole repairs some broken treads and comes up with a cool idea for how to turn an odd space into a storage closet.

Nicole puts a modern twist on the 1904 Summit Mansion in St. Paul when she installs an elevator in the middle of the home. A first for Nicole, she has to get the measurements exactly right throughout all three floors, or else she's just created a massive non-functioning hole in the middle of the historic home.

Nicole tackles the upstairs bedrooms and bathroom which have had their natural beauty covered in old wallpaper and fixtures. She brings out the beauty of the original birdseye maple woodwork in the bedroom, restores the two bedroom's fireplaces and removes the tacky kitsch from the bathroom. At another house, people line up to see Nicole's work and raise money for a fallen soldier.

Los Angeles area doctor, Sid, is leaving his parents home on the coast in Palos Verdes to be closer to his work and friends in West Hollywood. But since his folks have offered to help him buy, he's torn between the single family home they want him to get, and the sleek condo near the action that he really wants.

Before they were married, Donna and Gary loved the conveniences of living in New York City. But after the birth of their second daughter, their living quarters became cramped. And in a city where space was a premium, they couldn't afford to upsize. So like many young families living in Manhattan, the couple were pushed out of the city and into the suburbs. In Westchester County, Gary and Donna bought a large house with a spacious backyard for the kids. But, commuting to their jobs in the city was difficult, and the hour long train ride to and from their offices was taking a toll on family time. So when Gary's company offered a transfer to Edinburgh, Scotland, they jumped at the chance to return to urban life, and reside in an affordable city with reasonable commutes. But when the family landed on UK soil, they realized prices in Scotland's capital were higher than they expected. And getting a downtown apartment with four bedrooms and a garden cost more than their 2,400 dollars a month budget. Find out if they sacrifice size, location or cost when House Hunters International seeks city living in Edinburgh, Scotland.

Debbie and Sean have been living with their respective families near Boston, MA. Ready to strike out on their own, they are looking to buy their first house together. Debbie, a real estate agent, is set on finding a Cape Cod style home that she can overhaul. Sean, however, prefers a more rustic look; he's also wary of undertaking too many renovations. Debbie finds them several places to look at, but agreeing on one proves to be a challenge. Once they do, work gets underway and quickly takes on a life of its own. What starts out as a simple kitchen update spearheaded by designer Tiffany LeBlanc turns into a redo of the entire house. The ups and downs of renovation prove to be a challenge for everyone, especially when it comes to the ever-mounting costs. And with Debbie acting as the project's general contractor, she faces a steep learing curve in the world of construction. But after many months of dust and demo, they come out with a beautiful home for themselves and their family.

Nicole puts a modern twist on the 1904 Summit Mansion in St. Paul when she installs an elevator in the middle of the home. A first for Nicole, she has to get the measurements exactly right throughout all three floors, or else she's just created a massive non-functioning hole in the middle of the historic home.

Nicole tackles the upstairs bedrooms and bathroom which have had their natural beauty covered in old wallpaper and fixtures. She brings out the beauty of the original birdseye maple woodwork in the bedroom, restores the two bedroom's fireplaces and removes the tacky kitsch from the bathroom. At another house, people line up to see Nicole's work and raise money for a fallen soldier.

Los Angeles area doctor, Sid, is leaving his parents home on the coast in Palos Verdes to be closer to his work and friends in West Hollywood. But since his folks have offered to help him buy, he's torn between the single family home they want him to get, and the sleek condo near the action that he really wants.

Before they were married, Donna and Gary loved the conveniences of living in New York City. But after the birth of their second daughter, their living quarters became cramped. And in a city where space was a premium, they couldn't afford to upsize. So like many young families living in Manhattan, the couple were pushed out of the city and into the suburbs. In Westchester County, Gary and Donna bought a large house with a spacious backyard for the kids. But, commuting to their jobs in the city was difficult, and the hour long train ride to and from their offices was taking a toll on family time. So when Gary's company offered a transfer to Edinburgh, Scotland, they jumped at the chance to return to urban life, and reside in an affordable city with reasonable commutes. But when the family landed on UK soil, they realized prices in Scotland's capital were higher than they expected. And getting a downtown apartment with four bedrooms and a garden cost more than their 2,400 dollars a month budget. Find out if they sacrifice size, location or cost when House Hunters International seeks city living in Edinburgh, Scotland.

Debbie and Sean have been living with their respective families near Boston, MA. Ready to strike out on their own, they are looking to buy their first house together. Debbie, a real estate agent, is set on finding a Cape Cod style home that she can overhaul. Sean, however, prefers a more rustic look; he's also wary of undertaking too many renovations. Debbie finds them several places to look at, but agreeing on one proves to be a challenge. Once they do, work gets underway and quickly takes on a life of its own. What starts out as a simple kitchen update spearheaded by designer Tiffany LeBlanc turns into a redo of the entire house. The ups and downs of renovation prove to be a challenge for everyone, especially when it comes to the ever-mounting costs. And with Debbie acting as the project's general contractor, she faces a steep learing curve in the world of construction. But after many months of dust and demo, they come out with a beautiful home for themselves and their family.

Heading up to the second floor, Nicole takes on the bathroom, one of the house's dirtiest and grimiest rooms. She brings it down to the studs, adding clean lines with white subway tile and re-purposes an old dresser into one of her signature vanities. Since the house was lifted, the front porch has been floating in space, so Nicole tears it down to begin rebuilding a new one, giving the house an inviting and classic look.

Ever closer to finishing up the interior of the Dollar House, Nicole works in the bedrooms to put up all new walls and ceilings as well as remove the black and white linoleum flooring and patch up a burn mark in the hardwood. The staircase needs attention as well, so Nicole repairs some broken treads and comes up with a cool idea for how to turn an odd space into a storage closet.